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Florida Gardening

Plant ID - Stokes' Aster?

15 years ago

Bought this plant from a nursery that specializes in natives. They said it was Stoke's Aster. 18 months later it looks like this. Last year it grew to about 12-18 inches and did not bloom. Then this spring it start sending up stalks. They are now at least 8' tall. Is this really a Stoke's Aster? If not, what is it?

The whole thing:

The leaves at the base:

Closeup of stalk:

Tip of stalk:

A 6 month old plant:

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Comments (12)

tomkaren
15 years ago
Here is a picture of my Stokes Aster. They are only about a 8 inch tall plant.
mboston_gw
15 years ago
Could it be Carolina Aster? I think that is what I have and have been told it will bloom in the fall.
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I would not hesitate to cut apart this plant, which is not an aster like the typical garden asters. I would dig up the clump, hose it enough to wash the roots to see where to cut, puddle the pieces back in the ground. I would try it anytime there is no drought, freezing or blooming. An adaptable, underused native. My first were grown from seed and I still have them, almost 35 years later, as well as 'peachie's purple'and 'Mary Gregory'. Nice to see new varieties, of different heights and shades, that have come on the market, recently.
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No comment on the cultivars you named but general comments on Stokesia: my seed-grown, winter-sown plants come back every year, bloom generously mid-late July and produce lots of seeds afterwards in the fall. 'Klaus Jelitto' is a vigorous grower in my slightly acidic sandy loam. I've attached a link (below) with additional information on 'Klaus Jelitto' that may be of interest. My plants are growing in various beds, in part-sun mostly. Here is a link that might be useful: Missouri Botanical Garden
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My neighbor has a beautiful plant that blooms profusely each year. I harvested seeds back in late October and WS a number of milk jugs. Germination was slow and unreliable unlike my Stokesia 'Klaus Jelitto' that I harvested seeds from. Those germinated really well and I've several healthy WS plants waiting to be planted. The cream colored 'Mary Gregory' didn't have many flowers last year so the seed supply was limited. This year there are quite a lot of buds so I expect to expand my stokesia display next year and in years to come. I'd give a lot for anything like yours Christie. The photos are spectacular and an inspiration to me to keep trying until I can post a similar view. If all the seeds I WS had germinated, I'd have dozens of plants. At least the few I did get are sturdy and growing stronger every day. Healthy plants = healthy flowers = plenty of seeds. Thanks so much for showing off your pictures!
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Comments (9)
Mine usually bloom in May or June. I have several planted. They like full sun and good drainage. They like a lot of water but need to drain okay. Most of mine have done very well and have spread. The few that I have lost have been in a location that stayed too wet. Plant them where lantana or verbena or gaura would do well. They do need to be watered when they wilt, especially when blooming.
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david2267
Original Author
15 years ago
Are yours sending up huge stalks like mine?

My plant gets very droopy when it gets dry (like now - WATER ME!), but otherwise, those tall stalks do a pretty good of standing straight up even against wind. When I looked up Carolina Aster, most of the description were of a vine like plant.

I realize Stokes' Asters want full sun. My plant is at about the drip line of that Ligustrium. But it gets pretty good afternoon sun. I know plants tend to get "leggy" when they don't get as much sun as they want, but that goes well beyond "leggy".

I'm positive that monster is not a Stokes. Maybe the little guy is.

Do Stokes' Asters bloom their first year?

Thanks for the replies.
katkin_gw
15 years ago
My stokes aster get very tall, maybe not that tall, so I cut them back after blooming. The picture of the small plant looks like the stokes. The picture of the tip looks like it will bloom soon, that way you will know for sure. :o) Carolina aster is a vine.
zenzilla
15 years ago
It looks like elliott's aster to me. Symphytrichum elliottii.
Zen
david2267
Original Author
15 years ago
I asked back in this thread if anybody could id what I thought was Stokes' Aster. Whatever this is, it started blooming. Whatever it is, I like it, and the bees like it even more.

Slideshow
ariel73
15 years ago
Goldenrod?
Whatever it is, it is lovely!
manature
15 years ago
This is seaside goldenrod, a native plant that is a bee magnet and a great fall bloomer. Sorry I didn't recognize it in the leaf stage, but do have it and love it! Mine will sometimes send up spikes 8 feet tall and almost solid with blooms.

Glad you like yours. Mystery solved!

Marcia
david2267
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, I was wondering, I have two other varieties of Goldenrod, one I believe is Solidago odora var. chapmanii (below) and another variety which is even more spindly.
junkyardgirl
15 years ago
I love goldenrod. I'd rather have that than stokes aster anyday. But I would be wary of going back to that nursery.
edith_lee
15 years ago
It could be that you bought the plant from me - I'm sorry. We had some aster's mislabeled. Elliotts Aster was labeled as Stoke's aster. If you purchased it from us, please email me privately for a refund. edith@buyabutterfly.com

I'm sorry! I took the plant in today to the Division of Plant Industry for a positive ID so I will be sure they are labeled right next year!

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:948689}}
SweetMonkeyCheese Z9 Tampa
7 years ago
Love that Seaside Goldenrod... something so cool about a giant flower!!

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